Nanchan Temple

Nanchan Temple is home to China’s oldest wooden structure; The Giant Buddha Palace. Shanxi has long been crowned as a museum of cultural relics. It boasts the largest number of old buildings and its value tops China. In Shanxi, there are 35 cultural heritage sites under state protection, and 284 under province protection. There are 106 wooden structures built before the Song and Jin Dynasties, accounting for over 70% of structures in that period. Wutai Mountain is the place where there are the largest number of old buildings, amongst which Nanchan Temple is the oldest.

Nanchan Temple is located above a cliff on one side of the riverbank in Lijia Village, Yangbai County, Wutai Town. It stands in the north facing the south with two bridges in the front and back. It’s surrounded by waters and trees. Encircled by red walls and green trees, combined with flowing streams and extending hills, it’s filled with serenity and tranquility. This is a medium-sized temple, with an area of approximately 3,000 square meters. It stretches 60 meters in length from south to north and 51 meters from east to west. Two yards constitute the temple, with altogether 6 palaces like Giant Buddha Palace and Nan Guomen Palace, to name a few.